Joseph A. Oliva

Joseph A. Oliva concentrates his practice on civil and commercial litigation, insurance coverage analysis, and insurance coverage litigation. Joe’s practice also includes representing financial institutions in various commercial litigation matters and representing construction companies in catastrophic personal injury accidents. He has significant experience in all areas of financial institution coverage investigations and litigation involving fraud, social engineering, employee dishonesty, directors’ and officers’ liability, safe-deposit box loss, embezzlement, Ponzi schemes, check kiting, ERISA fraud, and mortgage fraud matters. In addition, he handles subrogation work, particularly in the health care subrogation area. Joe has handled both state and federal litigation involving ERISA-based plans, Medicare advantage and general health care plans’ subrogation, and reimbursement rights throughout the northeast. His practice also focuses on bad faith litigation, property damage litigation, and errors and omissions coverage investigation.

Joe also has handled litigation involving the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), loan participation agreements, foreclosures on loans and debts, and the mysterious disappearance of safe deposit box contents. In addition, he has counseled his clients on transactional matters and drafted confessions of judgment, loan agreements, safe deposit box contracts, and other documents. He also has class-action litigation experience, including cases involving diet drug and gun litigation, as well as multi-district litigation.

Joe represents broker-dealers in Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrations involving securities-related claims, including those alleging breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, unsuitable investment recommendations, improper sales practices, churning, and negligent supervision. He attended the FINRA Institute at Wharton (University of Pennsylvania) Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional Program (CRCP).

Joe’s previous experience includes working in a midsize New York City law firm, where he assisted clients with all phases of litigation from inception through trial in numerous property damage and personal injury matters. As the attorney in charge of the firm’s appellate practice in the New York City office, he conducted jury trials and wrote over 75 appellate briefs. He is also a former senior litigation associate for an international law firm in their New York City office.

At that firm, his practice concentrated on all aspects of commercial litigation and insurance coverage litigation from initial complaint to trial, verdict, appeal, and recovery.

Over the course of his career, Joe has obtained appellate argument experience in the First, Second and Third Judicial Departments of the New York Supreme Court and has over 70 reported decisions.

Experience Highlights

Global Insurance Services

Joe’s extensive experience includes conducting and supervising the investigation and coverage analysis of catastrophic safe deposit box losses for underwriters of major financial institutions resulting from the following:

•A rash of burglaries in the New York City area and across the country
•The destruction of the World Trade Center following the terrorist attack of September 11
•The devastation of Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy.

Joe developed a strategy and procedure for analysis and reimbursement of thousands of safe deposit box-holder claims affected by these tragedies and occurrences and has supervised a team of experts and handled all aspects of litigation resulting from these claims.

In addition, he has headed the insurance coverage investigation of a number of employee dishonesty, embezzlement, and fraud claims including Ponzi schemes. These include:

•A $61 million loss arising from an employee-embezzlement scheme in Argentina
•A $15 million loss resulting from employee theft
•Significant mortgage-fraud claims in California and Kentucky;
•Employee-theft claims throughout the U.S.

Joe also conducted an insurance-coverage investigation of a $23 million fraud by a bankrupt automobile-leasing corporation perpetrated against a major financial institution and handled all phases of the litigation on behalf of underwriters and the financial institution.

Honors & Awards

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent

New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2016-19

Top Rated Lawyer in Litigation, American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell, 2014

Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law, American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell, 2013

View peer-review methodologies at martindale.com and superlawyers.com. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Training and Certifications

•Department of Labor OSHA-10 Construction Training

Publications & Events

Presentations

•Speaker, “Appellate Advocacy - Demystifying the Process,” St. John’s University School of Law’s CLE Weekend, 2013; 2009; 2007
•Speaker, “Safe Deposit Boxes: The Contract, The Relationship, Compliance, and Risk Management,” Lorman Audio CLE, July 2012
•Speaker, “Tips For Settling Civil Lawsuits Ethically,” Medicare and Healthcare Subrogation, New York State Bar Association, June 2012

Webinars

•“Safe Deposit Box: Contracts, the Relationship, Compliance and Risk Management,” Presenter, Lorman Education Services webinar, May 16, 2019

Podcasts

•Contributor, “ Third Thursday Throwback: Social Engineering Fraud Coverage, ” Timely Notice, July 19, 2019
•Contributor, “ Part 2: Recent Social Engineering Fraud Coverage Cases, ” Timely Notice , June 14, 2018
•Contributor, “ Part 1: Recent Social Engineering Fraud Coverage Cases, ” Timely Notice , June 12, 2018

Recent Insights

36 Goldberg Segalla Attorneys Featured in 2019 New York Metro Super Lawyers

September 12, 2019

Fidelity Bond’s Termination Clause Triggered by Dishonest Acts

August 22, 2019

Thirty-Four Goldberg Segalla Attorneys Featured in 2018 New York Metro Super Lawyers

September 13, 2018

Settlement Spares Construction Company All Costs in Million-Dollar Property Damage Case

July 23, 2018

Goldberg Segalla Continues to Rise in 2017 New York Metro Super Lawyers Listing

September 20, 2017

Another Strong Showing for Goldberg Segalla in New York Metro Super Lawyers

September 27, 2016